To The Editor

September 29, 2009

By Contributor

Police blotter

Keep the entertaining headlines

I grew up in a small town, and looked forward every Thursday to the publication of The Wahkiakum County Eagle, where, along with the “News of Your Neighbors” columns, the editor also ran the highlights of the weekly police activity in our county.The column was never meant to include all of the reports the officers made each week, just a highlight. As a kid, it was fun for us to try to guess who it was the police had found on the local Lover’s Lane, or who had the eggs stolen out of their chicken coop. It was more a gossip column than a rundown of crime statistics.

When I moved to Issaquah and subscribed to The Issaquah Press, I was tickled to read the weekly police snippets. How charming. Seriously.

I love that our newspaper keeps the small-town feel. I love that I can still try to guess who the reports are about. If I wanted to know about crime statistics in our neighborhood, I need to go down to the police station and ask them. When I want to be entertained, I turn to the back page to find the funny little headlines about what’s been happening around town. Please don’t change the headlines.

Judy Gaffney

Issaquah

The headlines can spell out the infraction while still being ‘cutesy’

Please don’t stop with the ‘cutesy’ headlines on the police blotter. Not only is it worth a chuckle (read: stupid criminals on parade), but it clearly and concisely spells out the nature of the infraction. I enjoy them tremendously!

Vanessa Windsor Martinez

Sammamish

Media objectivity

Column reminds us news stories should be free of bias, remain objective

It was really refreshing to read David Hayes’ article in the Sept. 23 Press. He is one of the very few who thinks his job is to report the news and not to “sharpen your axe” with his opinion of what is right and what is wrong.

It seems that almost any newspaper I read is filled with the opinions of the editors or staff and little to do with reporting the news. I agree that opinions are acceptable on the editorial pages and on the opinion pages, but not on the front page and on the news reporting pages.

Even in your newspaper, there have been some people, who shall remain nameless, who have taken the opportunity to express their opinions and opined many subjects.

Thank you for being a protector of the code and reputation of The Issaquah Press.

Jack M. Long

Issaquah

You’d never learn of three big stories watching community center TVs

The 9-23 issue had an excellent Off The Press article by David Hayes. It addressed the shortcomings of the daily press, namely the three items covered was (1) the Washington, D.C., crowd last weekend, nothing about the reason for the gathering only than some Jimmy Carter NBC racists comments, (2) the shooting of an abortion supporter received wall-to-wall coverage for a week, while the shooting of an anti-abortion supporter was not covered and (3) ACORN corruption, enough said.

Hayes noted that FOX News viewers were well aware of all three. It is interesting to note that the twin TVs in the Issaquah Community Center are never tuned to the FOX News channel. Too bad those exercising people at the center are missing the factual info, i.e. Fox News motto “We Report, You Decide.”

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

From the Web site

In response to previous letters about The Press’ police blotter:

It’s no crime to have a sense of humor.

I have to respond to the curmudgeons who see no need for funny headlines in the police report.

Those humorous titles are one of the highlights of the week for us, and make us eager to open our Issaquah Press. I enjoy them so much that I have used them as an illustration of the importance of titles in my writing training at work.

Let’s give our headline writer some credit: That person has made the decision not to poke fun at more serious crimes such as assault or drugs. Meanwhile, let’s keep laughing at our minor crimes.

P.S. Am I the only one to notice that the report is in chronological order, as is traditional with police blotters? The report is in “random” subject order, because crimes occur in random order, except when there is a rash of similar crimes at the same time — which this format highlights.

Vera Giles

In response to a story about library opportunities in the 9-16 Press:

Libraries truly are one of the places where the foundations of lifelong learning are laid. I remember fondly the hours I spent in my local library as a child. And it’s great to see that libraries are now doing many interesting things on the Web as well. Good to learn about what’s going on in Issaquah.

Jeff Cobb

In response to the ovarian cancer story in the 9-16 Press:

This article is about my sister Lisa, who is fighting bravely and valiantly. I just want you to know that you can make a difference. You all have women in your life that have learned to dumb down symptoms similar to these. Please, reread the symptoms in this article and pay attention to the women in your lives. Take the time to educate them whenever you get a chance, your words could be the one thing that gets them to the doctor sooner. Fund a test, find a cure! Thanks.